The Seine Gets a Makeover

Les Berges, the new cultural and recreational space along the Seine, offers a range of activities for all ages. Photo: paris.fr

The banks of the Seine river in Paris are a listed World Heritage site. In June, a month before Paris Plages set up shop in two locations along the river, the city returned a once car-clogged stretch of picturesque Left Bank riverside land to pedestrians.

“Les Berges,” the more than three-year, 35 million ($47 million) riverside regeneration project, is part of the Paris’ ongoing effort to revitalize the city with sustainable urban planning and initiatives including the much-copied Vélib bike-sharing program.

The new 1.4 miles of riverside walkways are between the Pont Royal and the Pont Alma bridges.

The new 1.4 miles of riverside walkways between the Pont Royal and the Pont Alma bridges are an open air gathering place for young and old, with sports, leisure and cultural facilities. These include a climbing wall and converted shipping crates where adults can schedule a siesta, floating gardens, new cafés, restaurants and picnic areas, tipis you can reserve free for kids celebrating birthdays (aged 6-12), an arts and culture center by the Pont Alexandre III bridge, a “zen” space for yoga and more.